Notes: Friday, October 8, 2010

Interesting Herald article on marriage annulment law in Australia (and, historically, in Britain)

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/till-debt-us-do-part-case-dismissed-20101007-169px.html?skin=text-only

Mr. Macintosh on voting

A letter in today's Herald:

Arguments aplenty to feed intellectually hungry

Date: October 08 2010

[...] In her excellent article Elizabeth Farrelly suggests that voting should be not just a duty but ''a privilege, earnable by demonstrating some semblance of knowledge''.

This reminded me of Neville Shute's novel In The Wet, in which he imagined that Australia at some time in the future had adopted a multiple voting system, with everyone able to have up to seven votes, based on educational attainment and achievement.

This led to a flowering of achievement here, whereas Britain had stagnated under the single-vote-for-all system.

It would offend against our so-called egalitarianism, but perhaps it is an idea whose time has come.

Andrew Macintosh Queenscliff
[http://www.smh.com.au/national/letters/arguments-aplenty-to-feed-intellectually-hungry-20101007-169oy.html?skin=text-only]

I seem to recall that John Stuart Mill (a Liberal, of course) suggested giving university graduates an additional vote.

"Moscow [Russian Orthodox] patriarchate criticizes Nobel Prize award for in-vitro pioneer"

http://angelqueen.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34066

Fr. Zuhlsdorf on the origin of the Novus Ordo Missæ's 'Preparation of the Gifts' formula

Frankly, this sort of thing [celebrants changing the 'Preparation of the Gifts' formula] comes from the – in my opinion – ill-considered change to the offertory prayers for the Novus Ordo. This would be impossible to do in the older, traditional form of Mass, since the two offertory prayers are quite different and actually Catholic in their origin. The two new offertory prayers – which are Jewish berakha in origin – are so similar as to nearly invite this sort of editing when the less than careful priest has one of these flashes of brilliant insight as to how he can make improvements.
[My interpolation, italics in the original,
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/10/quaeritur-priest-changes-the-words-of-the-offertory/]

Now a true ritual sacrifice has three 'stages' (I'm not sure that that's the best word but it'll do): Oblation, consecration, and consummation. So Father is acknowledging in his post that the New Mass basically 1. gets rid of one of the parts of a true ritual sacrifice and 2. replaces it with Jewish (i.e. Talmudic, i.e. not just non-Catholic, but anti-Catholic) table blessings, and yet he continues not just to approve of, but even celebrate, this evil (since evil is a deprivation of the due good, and 1. and 2. clearly involve such a lack) rite? Incredible.

Mr. Christopherson on marriage

A commenter at Mr. Muehlenberg's blog wrote the following:

... The holy scriptures give three valid reasons for the end of a marriage. Death of one of the partners, adultery which was punishable by death under the Old Covenant effectively declaring the erring partner dead to the marriage, and permanent abandonment. ...
[http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2010/10/07/christians-living-like-pagans/]

Where does it say that in Scripture? If he's referring to the provisions of the Old Law, then clearly that is not a valid basis for his argument, since the Old Law has been abolished. And under the New Law, only the Pope can dissolve the natural contract of marriage (and no-one can dissolve the Sacrament of Marriage).

H.H. The Pope on Church-State relations and public morality

An item in today's Vatican Information Service daily e-mail bulletin:

REAPPRAISING THE SPIRITUAL AND HUMAN HERITAGE OF CHILE

VATICAN CITY, 7 OCT 2010 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received the Letters of Credence of Fernando Zegers Santa Cruz, the new ambassador of Chile to the Holy See. He began his address to the diplomat by expressing his closeness to the Chilean people following February's earthquake, and he recalled "the immense efforts being made by the Chilean Catholic Church, many of whose communities were also badly affected by the quake, to help people most in need. ... Nor can I forget", he continued, "the miners of the Atacama region and their loved ones, for whom I continue to pray fervently".

Going on then to observe that the new ambassador is beginning his mission in the year in which Chile celebrates the bicentenary of its independence, the Pope said: "Many are the fruits the Gospel has produced in that blessed land: abundant fruits of sanctity, charity, human promotion, and of constant striving for peace and coexistence". In this context he also recalled last year's celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with Argentina which, "with pontifical mediation, put an end to that dispute in the southern hemisphere", he said.

"That historical agreement", the Holy Father proceeded, "will remain for future generations as a shining example of the immense benefits that peace brings, and of the importance of preserving and encouraging the moral and religious values that constitute the most intimate fabric of a people's soul. We cannot hope to explain the triumph of this longing for peace, harmony and understanding without bearing in mind how deep the seed of the Gospel has taken root in the hearts of Chileans".

"It is very important, and even more so in present circumstances in which so many challenges threaten cultural identity, to encourage, especially among the young, a healthy pride and a renewed appreciation and reappraisal for their faith, history, culture, traditions and artistic heritage, and for everything that constitutes the best and richest spiritual and human patrimony of Chile".

At this point Benedict XVI also noted how, "although Church and State are independent and autonomous, each in its own field, they are both called to loyal and respectful collaboration in order to serve the personal and social vocation of the same people. In carrying out her specific mission to announce the good news of Jesus Christ, the Church seeks to respond to man's expectations and doubts, while at the same time drawing on those ethical and anthropological values and principles which are inscribed in the nature of human beings".

"When the Church raises her voice on the great challenges and problems of the present time - such as wars, hunger, widespread extreme poverty, the defence of human life from conception until natural end, or the promotion of the family founded on marriage between a man and woman, primary educator of children - she is not acting out of special interest or of principles perceptible only to people who profess a particular religious faith. Respecting the rules of democratic coexistence, the Church does this for the good of all society, and in the name of values that everyone can share", the Holy Father concluded.
CD/ VIS 20101007 (540)

Reginaldvs Cantvar
Feast of St. Bridget of Sweden, Widow, A.D. 2010